Multipart retractable structure



Dec. 1, 1953 T. F. ZIEGLER MULTIPART RETRACTABLE STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23, 1951 T l I IN V EN TOR. Zf q jaw ATTORMEY) Dec. 1, 1953 T, ZIEGLER 2,661,082

MULTIPART RETRACTABLE STRUCTURE Filed April 25, 1951 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I? w 4 r z;

zsfiw gg /2 1/41 75 17 I W I (I I II I I I I l I I I I I I i! '1||.... 45 1 I I g Patented Dec. 1, 1953 OFFICE MULTIPART RETRACTABLE STRUCTURE Tobias F. Ziegler, Chicago, 111.

Application April 23, 1951, Serial No. 222,518

3 Claims. (Cl. 189-14) (Granted under I'itle 35, U. S. Code (1952),

see. 266) l This invention relates to a structure formed of detachable sections. More specifically, it relates tothe production of a retractable structure that owes its retractability to detachability of comv ponent parts of the structure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a retractable device formed of a plurality of parts. The parts are readily attachable to and detachable from one another and are flexible, whereby they may be detached and taken out of the way. i

A further object is the provision of a vertically retractable support that may be used for military ,purposes. The support is formed of component parts that are flexible and can be rolled up when detached from one another and yet form a rigid assembly when attached to one another.

Other .objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the retractable structure of the present invention used as a supporting tower;

n Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the retractable structure;

Fig. 4 is a sectional viewtaken on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

T Fig. 51s a perspective view of an individual section used in constructing the retractable support;

Fig. 6 is a schematic view partially in section showing the way in which a component part of the retractable support is guided;

i Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 8; and

. Fig. 8 is a sectional of Fig. 6.

The reference character I designates the retractable structure of the present invention as seen in Fig. 1. It carries a large platform II at its upper end; The structure [0 is hollow and is formed of three sections that are detachable from one another at the base of the structure a and are led through three guides l2 positioned about the base of the structure to reels 13 upon which the'sections are wound.

Each section of the structure [0 is formed of a plurality of like units [4, one of which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 5. The unit I4 is formed as view taken on the line 8-8 a hollow framework having upper and lower ends.

"IE" and I6 of channel shape. The endsare joined by side faces I1 and I8, which are angled toward one another and make an angle of 30 degrees with the inner and outer faces of the unit, which are formed, respectively, by flanges l 9 on ends I5 and I6 and by flanges 20 on the ends and flanges 2|) on the side faces i1 and I8. The inner face of the unit carries a gear rack 2|. The upper ends of each unit carries a plurality of hinge parts 22 at its outer face, which hinge parts are adapted to cooperate with correspond- 7 ing hinge parts on the lower crosspiece I6 of the unit just above. A suitable pin extends through the mating hinge parts on the adjacent sections to provide a hinge joint between the units at their outer faces. The side face l8 carries a projection 23 which is approximately two-thirds 'recess is semi-circular when viewed from side:

face i! or l8 and increases in width from the end plate when viewed from the upper end 15. V

The units of the three sections fit together as illustrated in Fig. 2 to form a triangle, the side faces ii and the side faces E8 of the units M of each section fit, respectively, against the side faces N3 of the units of one of the two remaining sections and the side faces I! of the units of the other of the two remaining sections. The projections 23 of the units of one section fit in the recesses 25 of the units of one of the two remaining sections and the projections 24 of the units of the said one section fit in the recess 25 in the units of the other of the two remaining sections. Thus the sides comprise a stable triangular structure that can provide a support for something such as the platform H illustrated.

The three sections of the structure are progressively detached from one another at their base when the structure is to be retracted, as illustrated in Fig. 4. A unit l4 pivots outwardly on the hinged parts 22 with respect to the remaining units in the section above the particular unit, and the recesses 25 and 28 becomes disengaged from the'projections 23' and 24, because the recesses are approximately opposite the hinged parts 22 and are inward therefrom. The guides l2 curve downwardly and outwardly from the base of the structure It to the reels l3 and thus the aforesaid disengagement of projections and :"mechanism shown in Fig: 2.

recesses. As previously stated, the sections are wound up on the reels l 3 as they are disconnected from one another. When the process is reversed, the sections are unreeled and fed through the guides toward one another, the units moving progressively into line with one another as illustrated in Fig. 4, thereby causing engagement of the recesses 25 and 12B Wlthi'thGl'DIOjGCtlOIlS'23 and 24. The-units of each section are staggered with respect to the units of the two remaining sections. Thus, as seen in Fig. 4 the tilted unit at the right straightens with respect to .the sections above it, thereby movingthe recess '25 into engagement with the projection 23. =7of:.=the-wlast straightened unit on the left. After the tilted unit on the right has straightened;the-tilted unit on the left, being below the tilted unit. onethe right, straightens with respect to the other units of its section, moving the recess zfiinto engagement with the projection 24. This action goeson progressively round and round the structure. The structureds elevated bywmeanscot a driving Thexgear racks: 2

afiixed'to the inneriaces of the units of the. three usect-ions. areaengaged by gears zl' 'securedtc-rthree jackshafts'sr28. journaled tin three. rbearingsrt29.

The ishaf ts :2 8 .areinterconnected bybeveled gears 530 and one shaft 285isrdri-ven by. a worm? wheel 3l'mounted.thereon; which is'in: turn driven; by "a wormf32 on. a.' power take-01f shaft 33 which 0 extends from below .ithe; base .of the structure '5 0.

Fig; Lshows a column MKcarrying a support for the driving xzmech'anism njust described. This mechanism mayw-baemployed to bring units'rof a the sections :of'ilthe stru'cture' progressively -.together-and project the-structure. upwards; .to=*sep ar'ate the units" of: the sections from one another and'retra'ct'the structurey and by a. locking action, -to hold the sides of the structurefrom: disassembling by virtue of their own weight and the weight imposed upon them'through thep-latform I i.

"The upper ends of-the' structure 10 is formed of three permanently connected parts 34, 35 and 35 of three different heights; whereby their-upper =--ends are at the same level to carry theplatform II, and the l'ower ends are staggered so as to-be connected to the-staggered rows of units i l forming the-sectionsof the structure.

As illustrated in'FigsJ 7 "and 8, the guides 12 are *formed as shallow;- wide channels-with inwardly directedflanges "38 and a central depression- 39 -in the base providing room-for" the gear racks 2|. -At their upper inner endsthe guides '12 are "joined-to'one another and the sides of the channels disappear so'that theend plates ll and 'lB of the sections of the three sides may be brought together. the depth "of the channel is'grea-ter than at. the

At the curved region shown in'F igJ-g than as specifically described.

'I'heinvention described herein maybe manurfacturedfand used by or for theGovernmentof the United States. of. America for" governmental purposeswithout the, payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim: 1.; A retractable. supportcomprising three sec- :tions.-;each formed: of; a? row. ofunits. hinged-to :;one another Joints transverse to. the. direction ,5. of the row, means permanently connecting the sections together at one end in a. triangle with the joints in each row ofiset from the joints of each of the other rows and building up the end units even with one another, three reels spaced about the base of the structure from which the sections may be unwound while becoming pro- ;"gressivelyconnected edge to ed'ge' soras to be projected as a'triangle structure of increasing length and upon which the sections may be wound while Ewbecoming progressively disconnected so as to be .retractedasa triangular structure of decreasing length, the'sides 'of each unit of each row abutting :atanaacute angle at each corner having projec- ..tions opposite the hinges of the adjacent row and recesses atthe joints engageable with corresponding recesses and projections on the units of the other two rows, relative engagement and dis- "engagement of the projections and recesses occurring upon the progressive hinging movement and interlocking of the units of each row during winding-'- and: unwinding of the 'rows; gear racks "on the inside 0f" ithe three rows," -'-three -sha'fts arranged in a triangle-within thestrxi'ctura gears secured to the' shafts and meshing with the racks,

means interconnecting the shafts, and m'e'ans applying drive-to one of the shafts whereby-the "structuremay be retracted; projected; and held in any desired position.

'* 2." A retractable support-comprising aplurality of sections each formed of a row of units hinged to one another in joints transverse to the di-rectionof the row, respective reels -adapted'to"-unwind the sections toprogressively joinsaid sec- "tions side by side so as tobe projectablei'nto 'an increasingly longer hollow structure while being unwound; means for holding the abutting units in adjacentrowstogether, the "sides of saidsections extendingfin'wardly at*an-acute angle to circular recesses in the'surfaces'whi'ch increase in width from the abutting "surfaces of the units and'ip'ro'jections' from the surfaces to fit in' 'the corresponding recesses and"interl'ocking-"the sec- ""tionstogetherbytheunwinding'movement asthe the sections are progressively joined.

3. A retractable support in accordance with claim 2 comprising three sections'in which there are gear rack" portions on theinsideof theunits of the .three .rows which together providea'continuousrack' on each section, three shaftsarranged in attri'an'gle' within the structure parallel with the section; gears securedto" the shafts and meshing 'respectivelywith' the rackson' the "sec- .tions, means interconnectingthe shaftsforsimultaneous movement; and" means-for "applyingrdrive to. one of the shaftswhereby the support maybe retracted; projected; and" held'in any desirediposition.

TOBIAS'F. .ZIEGBER.

i-lmaferences Cited. in--;-the. -file of this-patent UNITED STATES 'BATENTS Number 7 Name TD'ate 799,1 63 Hubbard Sept: '12, 1905 2,130,993 Dubilier Sept/20; 1938 -,2,55.4,300 .Hayakawa May 22 1 951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country T Date 

